From the One Minute How-To Podcast via Odeo.com, here is some advice on how to leave a great impression during your job interview.
I just found out that Monster.com is podcasting career advice. A little more audio for your commute or work-out. I've subscribed but haven't had a listen yet.
Related tags: getthatjob get+that+job job+hunt job+search career+advice networking professional+development monster podcasting
I am very proud of how I landed my first job out of college. It was 1994, and I had spent lots of time at the library, researching the hidden job market and looking for leads. I had posted a resume at the University of Cincinnati's Career Development and Placement office, and I guess they made a database available to recruiters.
My sister had recommended a book entitled 300 New Ways to Get a Better Job by Eleanor Baldwin. Nevertheless, I found that very useful and would recommend it to any graduate or especially students in an online degree program, since they don't have access to a career center.
So one summer day that year, Mark, the Environmental, Health, and Safety Manager for a company that manufactured decorative items for homes, called me. What was meant as an initial screening call turned into a full-fledged telephone interview. When I hung up, I had made an appointment for an in-person interview. Not having a car of my own, I was able to borrow a friend's. I spent the next days before the interview at the library, researching all I could on the company.
At the interview my enthusiasm for the position as an Environmental Engineer was strengthened, especially as I convinced Mark to take me on a quick tour of the plant. I made sure to share some of the information I had found from my own research, which seemed to impress Mark and Jim, the HR Manager who also attended the interview. At the end of the interview, I asked what more I could do to qualify for the job, conveying my strong interest.
Immediately when I returned home, I typed up a thank you note to both Mark and the HR Manager who also interviewed me. Then I both faxed and mailed it.
Within a week Mark called me to offer me the job. I accepted it and wound up moving an hour north to Dayton, Ohio, where I lived for ten years.
The Internet has certainly changed the way we can look for jobs and how employers can find us. This worked for me back in 1994.
Do you have a job-hunting success story you'd like to share? Please send it to me at daniel [at] getthatjobonline [dot] com.
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Note: I've updated this post to include some additional links to affiliates and others that I recommend you check out.
If you've been around this blog throughout its nearly 5-year history, you'll know that the general layout hasn't changed that much. 
Until today. I encourage you, if you're getting this content via an RSS subscription to stop by the website at getthatjobonline.com to see how it looks.
Some great things you'll find over there are
It appears to be so easy for the coworkers in my department to eat their lunches at their desks. We work on a floor below most of the company, and I've made an effort recently to head upstairs to the break room to eat my lunch with other people.
I have also spent time asking some of my fellow employees about their work. This is probably made easier to do because these individuals were all recently hired. I like to ask about their work backgrounds, and how they found out about the job they have now.
I'm finding that people are so much more interesting as you get to know them than they initially appear on the surface. Isn't that so true?
Here are some recent examples how some of these people got that job:
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I've been reading David Schwartz's book The Magic of Thinking Big
Like the progressive corporation, plan ahead. You are in a sense a business unit. Your talent, skills, and abilities are your 'products.' You want to develop your products, so they command the highest possible price. Forward planning will do it.Just like in any business unit, there is sure to be integration among the departments, but this example really has me thinking about my own life. I have been reluctant to set goals in the past because I've had a low self-confidence. Now that it's gotten much better, I'm thinking BIG and ready to set goals.
Here are two steps which will help:First, visualize your future in terms of three departments: work, home, and social. Dividing your life this way keeps you from becoming confused, prevents conflicts, helps you look at the whole picture.
Second, demand of yourself clear, precise answers to these questions:
- What do I want to accomplish with my life?
- What do I want to be?
- What does it take to satisfy me?
Jason just pointed me to Penelope Trunk's latest column, "Ten Ways to Improve Your Job Hunt". Now I'm pointing you there.
Did you know Google Base has job listings?
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This is one of the things I love about blogging: Comparing Apples to Ideas
I was recently interviewed on the Career Opportunities LIVE! podcast by Douglas Welch this past Friday.
Check it out and let me know what you think!
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While driving home from work yesterday, I listened to the Buckeye Drive Time podcast, #122. If you're not familiar with the format, Tom Rockhold shares an Ohio moment, three podsafe songs - songs that independent music artists have permitted to be played on a podcast, and three podcast promos - audio commercials for other podcasts. It's designed to be a drive-time alternative to mainstream radio.
One of the promos I heard yesterday was for Find Your Ideal Career, which I found really intriguing. Michael Spremulli helps college students figure out what they want and discover their ideal career path, sometimes referred to as the "Simon Cowell of personality profiling". It looks like the podcast is brand new; I haven't listened to it myself yet.
I'd have to imagine that the show could be useful to anyone wanting some more advice on their own career assessment, whether you're in college or not. Check it out and let me know what you think!
Related tags: getthatjob get that job job hunt job search career advice career assessment professional development personality assessment michael spremulli find your ideal career buckeye drive time tom rockhold podcast
Okay, I realize this might sound a bit weird...
Some of you may know that I host and produce the Journey Inside My Mind Podcast, which I have done for over a year now. At the end of the theme, before the opening monologue, I have an audio clip that I created that goes like this:Man:What happens when a man goes through his own portal?
I love having that clip because it gets me charged up and ready to move on with the show.
Woman:We'll see.
Announcer: Get ready... here's Dan Johnson!
(applause and sound of kids cheering)
I recently have started using that same audio clip as the Start Windows sound for my computer. So now, as I boot up my machine and log in, I get introduced!
Like I said, it may sound a bit weird. Maybe even a little corny. I don't care. It charges me up for doing work.
What does this have to do with a job search? Well, in the same way, we all are the stars of our own show. Every day you get to live is a new palette for you to carve out a masterpiece. I think that how you approach it says a lot for your effectiveness. Sometimes we need something to inspire us to get started.
What inspires you to make it a great day?
Related tags: getthatjob get that job job hunt job search career advice networking professional development dan johnson attitude motivation inspiration jimmpodcast
Inside Office Online reports that they are featuring a package on everything Microsoft Office has to offer to help you get a new job. I have not checked it out myself, but I thought I'd share the news with you here.
Related tags: getthatjob get that job job hunt job search career advice microsoft office professional development dan johnson
I was searching for legal information on employee agreements and came upon the Employee Rights Center at Findlaw.com. I must check this stuff out. It looks like they have resources available to the public related to all aspects of the job searching and employment process.
Speaking of employee agreements, and the reason why I did the search in the first place, I'm wondering what the legal ramifications of striking out certain items of an employee agreement are.
Anyone out there with knowledge in this area?
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getthatjob get+that+job job+hunt job+search career+advice networking professional+development dan+johnson findlaw employee+rights employee+agreements employment+law
Here's a thought to consider, which I'm just throwing out here without a lot of proofreading or editing: you just got or have been working at a job working as a full-time employee. With benefits and a regular salary. How can you maintain the "consultant/independent contractor" mentality now that you've become part of such an organization? I'd like to know what ways work to stay in that "I'm my own career manager" mindset.
Feel free to comment.
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getthatjob get+that+job job+hunt job+search career+advice networking professional+development dan+johnson
Hey! I am writing to inform you of my recent success at landing a job. That's right. Uh huh. (pardon me, while I do a happy dance.):
Before I say anything else here, I need to be clear that the opinions expressed here are my own and do not reflect those of any employer, past or present.
On Tuesday, January 2, 2006, I'll be going back to work full-time. I'd like to tell you some of the things I feel helped me secure this job.
First, I'd worked with the company before as a full-time employee, and, although laid off in August, I'd made what I felt was a very valuable contribution to the company. Even after that time, I'd done some independent contracting work for them, further adding value to them.
I kept a good relationship with former coworkers and supervisors, often chatting with them at least once a week. They even offered to reach into their own networks to help me out.
Fast forward a couple months, and I get offered to come back. Now, since I'd had time to do some market research, I'd found out that I had been getting paid below the market rate for others with the same skills and experience.
I also began to seek the advice of others whose opinions I trust. When approached with an initial offer, I didn't just accept it. I opted to look at other things, such as a cost-benefit analysis to determine whether it would be better to stay an independent contractor versus being a full-time employee. Some of these valuable people in my network helped me work this out.
I also feel it was valuable that I didn't try to negotiate from a position, but instead on factual principles. What does that mean? I meant that in everything, as I presented my concerns and questions, I relied on facts - number of miles to be driven, mileage reimbursement rates, etc.
It was a nerve-wracking experience, but one I'm glad I went through. I'm really glad to be going back to work.
What that means for this blog is that posts may become more erratic. But stay subscribed to the feed, and you'll know when I do update.
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Earlier this week I wrote a post entited, "You've Fallen - Now Get Back Up". I got a comment, and because my response was rather lengthy, I decided to put it into its own post. Also, I wanted to provide you all with an opportunity to share your advice. Here's the comment:Just stumbled onto this blog as a new effort in my 10-year unsuccessful search to uncover a passion that I can turn into a career, preferably an unconventional one.
First of all, thanks for leaving a comment.
Any advice for someone who is not afraid to try and fail, but who is desperately afraid of failing to find something to try?
10 years is quite a long time. Without knowing much about you personally, I can only offer some general advice and come from the perspective of job seeker myself. I guess it's really good that you're making steps toward looking.
When you say that you're "desperately afraid of failing to find something to try," I have to wonder what you've already done in your quest to learn more about yourself. I know of several types of career assessments available (check out the blogroll or search around here or via your favorite search engine).
I believe that the key for any job seeker is really knowing himself. You have to know what your where your interests and aptitudes lie.
I also believe it's important to do some "market research". Find a need and fill it.
I also believe that a single blog is not the end point. There are many others out here with other points of view and their own wisdom. So read what others are saying.
Lastly, and you'll read this elsewhere, get tied in with other people. I'm talking about networking. I encourage you to try out JibberJobber (see the link on this page). It's a great tool that I've started using to manage the details of my job-searching relationships, and I've found it to be very helpful so far.
With that in mind, don't be a stranger! If you'd like to contact me directly, send me an email: danimal0416 [at] gmail [dot] com
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One thing I love about maintaining this blog is to present job-hunting success stories. They inspire us all, and we need the encouragement to know that success is available for us.
Instead of sharing one right here, I offer a prescription in bold, capital letters: GO SEE "THE PURSUIT OF HAPPYNESS".
Here's a direct quotation from the IMDB User Comments page for the movie:Chris is shown running throughout the movie. Remember the title of the movie: "The PURSUIT of Happiness." Chris places emphasis on "pursuit." Jefferson, when he penned the Declaration of Independence, did not promise Americans happiness, but only the right to pursue it. Chris says, at one point in the movie, paraphrase, "I am happy right now. It is a fleeting moment." We experience happiness in eyeblinks. The rest of the time we, like Chris, are chasing after it.
There will be some heart-wrenching moments that might make you feel uncomfortable, because of how real the circumstances are portrayed. But I think it behooves any job seeker to see this movie. Maybe even more than once.
Related tags: getthatjob get+that+job job+hunt job+search career+advice success+stories professional+development dan+johnson the+pursuit+of+happyness
During some recent mild weather this past week, my wife and I spent some time outside, trying to teach our daughter how to ride her brand-new bike. The experience reminded me of something about life:
I told our daughter that, as she learns to ride her bike, she will fall down. She needs to get comfortable with that fact and not be afraid of it. We got off the bike and went over to the grass. I then told her to fall down. Then I did. I got back up and told her to get back up. The ground is softer than pavement, so it was a good starting point.
Then I had Keisha run at me and knock me down. When I got back up, I told her to do it again, and this time when she pushed, I pushed back. We both fell down. I got back up, but she got upset and sat there on the ground. She was mad at me and wanted her mother, who tends to baby her more than I.
I've heard it said that the best way to practice martial arts for self-defense is to experience getting hit. Pulled punches don't really prepare someone for the real thing.
I think there's a real good lesson about life here, even to a job search. We will fall down and we'll get knocked down. Circumstances will happen that knock the wind out of us. We shouldn't be so afraid of this happening that we don't do anything. I think I've been prone to that behavior in the past I have missed golden opportunities.
When we get knocked down, we get back up and try again. When we fall down, we get back up. That's the only way to get better.
Related tags: getthatjob get+that+job job+hunt job+search career+advice networking professional+development dan+johnson life+lessons overcoming persistence determination courage
crossposted to journeyinsidemymind.com
I just migrated this blog to the new version of Blogger. I guess that means I'll have to spend some time tweaking the layout and stuff in order to better provide the warm, juicy goodness you all have come to expect from visiting Get That Job!
Nothing further to see here. Unless someone leaves a comment, I guess.
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